I'm 55 years old, not sure how I lived this long. I drank Slurpees, ate red meat and candy! Can the SCPD do anything without criticism? One Slurpee is not going to cause a kid to get diabetes. How about limiting video and TV and make the kids go outside and exercise? I realize that's a novel idea since it's easier to blame sugar drinks on obesity instead of irresponsible parenting. Thank you SCPD for all you do and for trying to do a good thing.

— Robin DeAlvarez, Santa Cruz

Hometown back east values what they have

The Sentinel's editors contend that lack of economic growth does the community a disservice. Where is that written? Having been a resident of Santa Cruz for three decades I consider this my home and I have every intention of staying. But I still have fond memories of my original home back east where many of my friends and family still live. Economic vitality and growth are not common topics of discussion back there. Yet people remain, they thrive and continue to enjoy their communities, not wishing to give up what peace they have, the seasons they enjoy, watching their families grow and simply stated, just living. With a population of 4,500 my hometown still manages to keep a public pool open all summer. They're not worried about the next hotel, more students or the need for a freeway bypass. They value and take care of what they have.

— Jan Bentley, Santa Cruz

Opinion piece highlights city's secret handshake

I'd like to commend Debora Wade for her opinion piece about the upcoming Hyatt Hotel in the Lower Ocean neighborhood. It's well written and well researched and tells a recurring story very well.

It's a shame that large businesses benefit from tax cuts and water breaks that citizens and small businesses don't get; that beautiful old trees — that might have been saved in other circumstances — go down when a large corporation wants them down; that corporations receive money to open a business when it takes everything most of us have to keep running one.

But the saddest thing of all is that, over and over, year after year, the clearly expressed opinions of a neighborhood are consistently and systematically heard ... and then ignored.

This secret handshake, Ms. Wade mentions, between the city and the businessman, is the first thing we should prevent with accountability, publicity and sanctions. Corruption has no place in our government.

— Erica Aitken, Santa Cruz

AP photos only show half of the Middle East conflict

I find it most interesting that the AP Gaza/Israeli photos only show the devastation in Gaza, almost always including a photo of a child. I have yet to see a photo of the ruination and devastation caused by Hamas. No one takes into account that the Israelis are trying to defend themselves. They have not started this, and have tried to find a peaceful solution, however how do you make peace with an enemy who has sworn to wipe your nation off the face of the earth?

Hamas knows how to play the media and score huge visual points in the newspapers. Israel does not know how to play the game, they are merely trying to survive.

— Cheryl M. Dougan, Corralitos

Farhat-Holzman's views on history are wrong

In response to Laina Farhat-Holzman's ridiculous commentary, Amy Goodman is one of a small minority of reporters who point out the sad truths for the oppressed. Farhat-Holzman's premise that she would back a group of Nazi's is a false observation to anyone who actually listens to Goodman's show.

For someone who claims to be a historian, her statement that the nuclear bombing of Japan was necessary is completely wrong. The Russian army was on it's way to dispatch the reeling Japanese army.

Israel a "vibrant democracy?" I guess you could also say that South Africa was a vibrant democracy for the Dutch settlers too. The conflict will not end in genocide? When you deliberately bomb schools and hospitals, you are accomplishing genocide. Real history shows us that no society ever tolerates apartheid for long. Israel is defending colonialism.

Farhat-Holzman's mean and factually false views should be kept to herself.